Counting apparatus



F. W. SHERMAN COUNTING APPARATUS Filed June 13. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR jinn/r 71. Sherman,

A TTOR NE YS Aug. 4, 1925.

F. w; SHERMAN COUNTING APPARATUS Filed June 13, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR flank Sherman WITNESS ATTORNEYS i Patented Aug; 4, 1 925.

1,548,102 PATENT? OFFICE.

' "UNITED STATES.

FRANK WALTER SHERMAN, 0F JACKSONVILLEJLGBIDA.

COUNTING APPARATUS.

Application flled June 18, 1824. Serial No. 719,827.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LFnANn W. SHERMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Counting Apparatus, of which. the following is a specification. f

This invention relates to a counting apparatus.

The present apparatus is particularly adapted for counting dots or dashes.

Statements of account are provided by banks .for depositors. These statements comprise different columns of figures'showing deposits and withdrawals'ofthe depositor. Each item in the withdrawal column is followed by a "dash and such is also true with respect to the other columns upon the statement. In checking these statements it is'necessary to count the items in the withdrawal column in order to ascertain if they correspond to the number of checks on file showing withdrawals. The deposit column is similarly checked. t

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus by which the number'of dashes in the different columns referred tomay be counted and thus enable aquick and accurate checking of the number of items in each column-with the number of checks or deposit slips on file.

It is further to be understood that while my invention is suited for the purpose'heretofore specified, the samecan be utilized for p counting dots, dashes, marks, or the. like used for other purposes.

The. invention is illustrated by way of example in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing in vertical section the different units employed in the apparatus and also the electrical wir ing system therefor;

- Figure .2 is atop plan view of the sup porting means for the clashes to be counted; Figure 3 1s a: transverse sectional view of sheet bearing I the the same taken substantially on the line of'Figure 2; Figure 4 isabottom plan view of unit, and, V

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the counter unit, parts being broken away detector to showthe structure of the .counter dial employed and actuating means therefor.

Referring to the drawings more. particularly, the counter unit, is generally designated by the reference character A,the detector unit by reference character B, and the statement supporting. unit by the reference character C.

The counter' unit comprises a casing 10 in which there is suitably mounted the two 21 with battery 14. The block 16 for supporting the spring armature 15. is of cur- 'rent conducting material and electrically connected to one terminal of the winding constituting, the electro-magnet 12, through a lead 22; the other terminal of said winding of electrom'agnet 12' being connected through lead 23 with battery 14.

An armature 24 is provided for the magnet 12, said armature'being fulcrumed near its one end by post 25. Aretractile spring 26 is employed to urge the armature 24 to swing from themagnet 12.

A rod 27 is suitably journaled within the casing 10 and this rod carries a ratchet wheel 28, and a dial 29 which has printed upon its front face a series of numbers arranged in .circular formation as shown in Figure 5.

The numbers should begin with the numeral one and proceed'in consecutive order as shown in Figures 5; The free end of armature 24 carries a pawl 30 which is adapt-,

ed to engage ratchet wheel 28 upon downward movement of the armature 24 and rotate the dial 29. The casing 10 has its front wall formed with an opening 31throughwhich the numbers on the dial 29 may be observed when brought into register with 'said opening. I

The supporting unit C comprises a table 32 to which there is hinged a cover 33. The

cover plate 33 is preferably of aluminum and adjacent its free edge there is provided a plurality 'of elongatedslots This end of the cover 33 is also'provided with a pair of grooves 35 which extend substantially the entire width of theplate. p e'plate is further providedwith the para lel' ooves 36 and the connecting grooves 37. As shown in Figure 2 a balance or statement sheet 38 may be placed beneath thecover plate 33 and the rows of dashes to be counted indicated at 39 brought to register with slots 34 1 of the cover 33. Y

The detector unit B comprises a casing 40 which may be of any desired shape and within theupper part of said casing there 'is suitably. mounted a selenium cell 41.

This cell is inserted in' an electrical circuit.

positioned to move over either of the other slots 34 in plate 33 as is entirely apparent.

The casing has integrally formed therewith a tubular extension 46 whichis disposed substantially as shown in Figure 1 and which carries an electric lamp 47. The lamp 47 is connected to battery 12 by wires 48. The tubular extension also carries concentrating' lenses 49 which are adapted to direct the rays of light emanating from the lamp 47 upon the portion of paper of sheet 38 which is exposed through slot 34 over which the casing 40 may be disposed.

Within the casing 40 there is mounted in any suitable manner baflle plates 50 and 51 which restrict the area of the cell 41 that may be subjected. to the'rays of light refiected from the sheet 38. e In 'the .use of the present device ance sheet 38 is sitioned as best illustrated in Figures, 2. a'nd 3 and thus exposea row of dashes to be counted through; one of the slots 34 in the cover plate 33. The casing 40. is now positioned, so that the rays of light projected from the lamp 47 and lenses 49'will strike the exposed portion of paper disposed in the slot over which the casing ficientl 40 is positioned. Light will be reflected from .t e paper upon the selenium cell and thereby lower the resistance ofthe cell sufto permit current to flow through I said ce 1 from battery 13. This curreht will also flow through the-electro-n agnet 11.

The magnet 11 will draw its armature \15 to engage contact 20 and' thereby establish a circuit through the .electromagnet 12 which will'draw downward upon the fulcrumed armature 24 and rotate thedial 29 to bring mad the numbers upon said dial into register with opening .30. in casing 10. "If'thecasing 40 ismovedover the pl'a teE 33 the different dashes in register with the slot 34 over which the; casing is moved will come selenium cell.

the balinto register with the rays of light projected from the lamp 47 and lenses49. w-Each dash 15 and thereby break the circuit through the magnet 12. The armature 24 will assume its normal position under the influence of spring 26. Each dash upon the balance sheet 38 causes the armature 24 to assume its 7 I normal position, viz, away from'theelectrm magnet as shownin Fig. 1. Between successive dashes the armature 24 will be drawn,

to the magnet 12 and the dial 29 moved to bring the next successive number in register. The number of dashes are in this mane ner re istered by the dial 29. v

. It should be noted that the selenium cell could be substituted by any other 'ele ment or device which would act to vary current flow, similar to that described for the I so in case 'the marks or 'dashes to be counted are red or other color instead of the usual black, then the action upon the selenium cell would be diflerent and the current circuits would-be arranged accordingly. It is. further noted that in case the currents controlled by the selenium cell are not-stron enough for operating the relay described, 51 currents could be inserted in'the circuit between the relay and cell. 7

lVhile I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, I wish it to en an amplifier for/weak be understood-that I- am'aware of the fact that @hanges iniiybe made in the general construction, combination and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit slide upon a surface, 'a selenium cell withinthe casing, asecond casing attached to. the

first named casing and extending-fit an angle thereto, a light and'lensee wit the second casin' whereby a beam of light may ,be focuse upona ointjintersectingan'axialline projected rom the openingin the first 11am (1 casing. I

2. In a apparatus ,of the character described, a sheet of light reflectingmatefial having marks thereon arranged in rows a' cover for the sheet having slots with which the rows of marks may register, 'a casing having. a restricted openin and adapted to be manually moved 'over 't e cover with its opening in register with.a slot, a selenium cell in,the casing, means whereby li ht may be upon the surface oft e sheet material over which the casing is moved, and

thereb cause a shadow to be reflected upon the se enium cell with each mark brought into register with its opening.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a table, a sheet of light reflecting material upon the table, marks upon the sheet arranged in a row, a cover for the table having a slot with which the row of marks may register, a selenium cell, a mounting therefor including a source of light adapted to concentrate the rays emanating therefrom to strike the portion of sheet material exposed through the slot of said cover and be reflected upon the cell and to cast a shadow upon the cell when said,

light strikes a mark upon the sheet, whereby with movement of the light and cell over the slot in the cover the shadows of the marks will be successively cast upon said cell for the purpose described.

4. A counter device comprising a casing having a restricted openin a selenium cell within the casing, means w ereby the casing may be supported for moving the same over a surface, a light carried by the casing, and lenses whereby the light can be focused upon a point intersecting an axial line projected from the opening in said casing.

FRANK WALTER SHERMAN. 

